Brush mechanism



Oct. 18, 1960 I E. R. EDMUNDS 2,956,297

BRUSH MECHANISM Filed lay 5, 1958 4 Sheets$hee t 1 INVENTOR.

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BRUSH MECHANISM Filed May 5, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 E. R. EDMUNDS BRUSH MECHANISM Oct. 18, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 5. 1958 vacuum Pump v INVENTOR. a w, A

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United States Patent BRUSH MECHANISM Ernest R. Edmnnds, Tonawanda, N.Y., assignor to R. G. Wright Company, Inc., Bufialo, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 5, 1958, Ser. No. 733,044

16 'Claims. (CI. 15-72) This invention relates to a rising brush mechanism for use in automatic washing machines.

The present invention lends itself for use in an automatic 'washing machine which is adapted to wash containers of substantially uniform size carried upon a conveyor means whereby soiled containers are loaded at one end and washed containers are removed from the other end of the conveyor. Briefly, the invention relates to a brush assembly arranged for vertical movement for entering a container carried by an intermittently operating conveyor means and for lifting the container into engagement with a vacuum drive head adapted to rotate the container upon the brush assembly while liquid is sprayed into the container. Timing means regulate the brushing cycle so that the brush assembly is withdrawn from the container and the container is released and carried away by the conveyor while another container is positioned above the brush assembly. The brushing operation is completely automatic and is synchronized with the automatic operation of the entire machine for the efficient washing of containers.

In addition to the high efiiciency of operation attained by a washing machine incorporating the principles of the invention, is the extreme convenience with which the brushing mechanism may be serviced or maintained in good condition. Moreover, the design of the brush is such as to allow automatic flushing or brush cleaning during actual brushing operation.

The main object of this invention is to provide a brush assembly for an automatic Washing machine.

A more specific object is to provide a brush assembly for use in an automatic washing machine wherein containers of substantially uniform size are carried through the machine on an intermittently operated conveyor means.

Another object is to provide a brush assembly for use in a washing machine wherein the operation of the brush assembly is automtaic and is synchronized with the automatic operation of the entire machine for the efficient washing of containers.

A further object is to provide a brushing mechanism for use in a container washing machine which brushing mechanism may be easily serviced or maintained in good condition.

.Another object is to provide a brush mechanism that allows automatic flushing or brush cleaning.

These and further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

' Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a rinsing brush mechanism embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is thesame as Fig. l, but 90 removed therefrom;

' Fig. 3 is a section view generally as seen along line 3-3 in Fig. 2; v

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view generally as seen along line 44 in Fig. 2 and showing the brush mechanism in operative'position within a container;

2 Fig. 5 is the same as Fig. 4 but showing the brush mechanism in non-operative position within a container;

Fig. 6 is a section View generally as seen along line 6--6 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a section view generally as seen along line 7-7 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section view generally as seen along line 8-8 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 9 is a schematic view illustrating an electrical circuit used in the arrangement of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, the numeral 11 identifies a washing machine having a conveyor means 12*arranged for moving or transporting cans or containers 13 through the machine from a load to an unload point (not shown), whereby the containers are washed or cleansed by various mechanisms, one of which is a brushing mechanism 14, which forms the subject matter of the invention. The other mechanisms (not shown) include means to provide a high pressure spray operation which precedes the brushing operationgand a rinsing operation which follows the brushing operation, the mechanisms for such operations being well known in the washingmachine art with which this invention is concerned.

The brushing mechanism 14 includes a rising brush assembly 16, and a vacuum chuck assembly 17, both arranged in axial alignment within a frame means 18. The brush assembly 16 is arranged for vertical movement produced by a piston assembly 19, including a piston rod 21 having a cross-head 22 mounted upon the end thereof, which cross-head is slidingly arranged in a pair of U- shaped channels or guides 23 supported in the frame means 18. A drip pan 24 is'suipported in the frame means 18, and has a drain or opening 26 for receipt of a hose (not shown) whereby rinse water may be guided into a drain pipe.

The brush assembly 16, as best seen in Figs. 4 to 7, includes a pair of rectangular plates 27 which are secured at the lower end to the cross-head 22 and which have bolted thereto a pair of plates 28. A pair of guide strips or bars 29 are :atnxed between the plates 28 and slidingly receive an actuator 31 which is in the form of a rectangu: lar rod having two pairs of recesses or cam grooves 32 formed on the sides thereof. A rectangular plate 33 is atfixed to the upper end of the actuator and perpendicular thereto, while a top brush 34 is bolted to the plate 33. Shims 35 may be placed between the brush 34 and plate 33 for adjustment purposes. Four shafts 36 pass through the plates 38 near the corners thereof, each shaft having an inner link 37 secured thereto, said inner link having a wheel or roller 38 adapted to ride upon the side of the actuator 31 and to be received by a cam groove 32. On the outer end of each shaft 36 is an outer link 39, each of said links 39 being pivotally s'ecured to the sides of a brush plate 41, which is arranged to receive a rectangular side brush 42 secured to the plate by fastening means such as screws 43. Shim plates 44 may be positioned between the brush 42 and a supporting plate 41 whereby the distance between the brushes 42 may be adjusted to agree with the internal diameter of the containers being brushed.

The inner links 37, are arranged at an angle to the outer links 39 to form in effect, bell cranks whereby the side brushes 42 will be moved outwardly, i.e., extended condition, when the rollers 38 are engaging the sides of the actuator 31 (Fig. 4), and will move inwardly, i.e., collapsed condition, when the rollers are'in the cam grooves 32 (Fig. 5).

A slot 46 is formed in each plate 28, to slidingly receive a shaft or pin 47 that is secured to the actuator 31.-' -A helical spring 48 connects each end of the pin 47 toa pin 49 secured to each plate 28, said springs being in tension Patented Oct. 18, 1960 to urge the pin toward the upper end of the slots 46. In such manner the springs 48. will tend to constantly urge the side brushes 42 toward collapsed condition.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the brush assembly 16 is adapted for easy entry i to a can 13. positioned thereabove by the conveyor means 12. When the top brush 34 engages the inside bottom of the Gail 13,,

continued upward movement of the brush assembly as caused by operation of the piston assembly 19, result in the engagement of the outside bottom of the can with a rotating vacuum chuck 51 forming part of the vacuum chuck assembly 17. Further upward movement will result in relative movement between the plates 28 and the actuator 31, whereby the side brushes 42 will be moved outwardly into engagement with the inside wall of the can. The can will be rotated by the rotating vacu: um chuck 51, while the brush assembly 1 6 will be held stationary by reason of the cross-head 22 being held in the guides 23. During such brushing operation, water will be sprayed into the can 13 by means of jet spray pipes 52, so that the brushes are flushed and the brushing action is improved. The action of the vacuum chuck 51 and the water spraying is controlled by the vertical movement of the brush assembly as will be later clarified.

After a predetermined time, the piston assembly 19 will be operated to lower the brush assembly 16, result ing in the movement of the side brushes 42 to collapsed condition under action of the spring 48, and the withdrawal of the brush assembly from the can. The brushed can will be moved onwardly by the conveyor means 12, while another can will be moved into position over the brush assembly 16, following which a brushing action will be initiated. Guide bars 45 are arranged for preventing side movement of the cans 13 as they are moved by the conveyor means 12.

The vacuum chuck assembly 17, includes the vacuum chuck 51, which is secured to the lower end of a tubular shaft 53, the latter being arranged in roller bearings 54. A second tubular shaft 50 is secured within the upper end of shaft 53 and is arranged .for rotation by a sprocket gear 56 driven by an endless chain 57 connected to a sprocket gear 58 of a reduction gear assembly 59. A housing 61 is arranged for the support of the roller bearings 54, the lower end of the housing being secured to a platform 62 which also supports the reduction gear assembly 59, a motor 63 which is drivingly connected to the reduction gear assembly by an endless belt 64, and a motor driven vacuum pump 66.

The vacuum chuck 51 includes a soft rubber disc-like pad '67 which has a central recess 68 and an opening 69 arranged to connect with the interior of the tubular shaft 53, whereby a subatmospheric or vacuum pressure may be applied to the bottom of a can 13 urged against the rubber pad 67 by the brush assembly 16. Such vacuum pressure is produced by operation of the vacuum pump 66, which connects with the tubular shaft 53, by means of a pipe or hose 7.1 entering into a bushing 72 which is secured against rotation, and which surrounds the tubular shaft 50. The latter has radial holes 73 positioned in alignment with a peripheral groove 74 formed in the bushing 72, whereby open communication is afforded between the hose 71 and the interior of the shafts 50 and 53. The tubular shafts 50 and 53 are held against axial movement by means such as collars 76.

The conveyor means 12 includes a pair of dog or inner bars 77 having pairs of pivoted levers or dogs 78 arranged in opposition on the outside thereof, and a pair of rails 79 positioned one on each side of the inner bars 77. The inner bars 77 are adapted for movement in a reciprocal manner whereby the dogs 78 will advance cans 13 tively rapid, while the return stroke is relatively slow, say eighteen seconds, whereby suflicient time will be allowed for a brushing operation.

In Fig. 9 a schematic circuit arrangement is illustrated, which includes a pair of wires or cat whiskers 81 which operate on a 6 volt battery to close a relay 82 when a can 13 completes a circuit as it engage the cat whiskers while being moved by the conveyor means 12 into position above the brush assembly 16. When the can arrives in position above the brush assembly, a trip lever (not shown) aflixed to one of the dog bars 77 will close the contact of a normally open switch 83 and complete a circuit through a solenoid 84 of a valve 86, and through the coil of a relay '87. Operation of relay 87 completes a circuit through a normally closed switch 88 and through the solenoid 84, to form a holding circuit. Upon energization of solenoid 84, the valve 86 will be operated to cause flow of pressurized medium (pneumatic or hydraulic) from a pump 89 to the lower end of the piston assembly 19 to raise the piston rod 21 and elevate the brush assembly 16. s

As the brush assembly 16 arrives at the end of upward vertical movement, a normally open switch 91 is closed by action of an arm or finger 92 afiixed to the piston 23 to complete a circuit through the solenoid of a vacuum valve 93 and the solenoid of a water flow control valve 94. As a result, the vacuum head 51 is supplied with a sub-atmospheric or vacuum pressure produced by the pump 66, and water is simultaneously delivered to the spray jets 52 from a pressurized water source.

Such conditions prevail during reverse movement of the dog levers 77 and until the switch 88 is contacted by the dog bar trip lever to break the holding circuit through relay 87. As a result the solenoid 84 will become deenergized and a spring 96 within the valve 86 will cause a redirection of pressure fluid to the upper end of the piston assembly 19 to cause downward movement of the piston 23. During such downward movement, the switch 91 will be opened thus breaking the circuit through solenoids of the valves 93 and 94, and allowing internal springs thereof to return the valves to original or nonoperative position.

In such manner, the various components contributing to the production of a completely automatic bushing cycle, will be made to function.

Thus it will be seen that the principles of the invention may be applied to realize the objectives set forth in the early part of this disclosure.

The foregoing description has been given in detail without thought of limitation since the inventive principles involved are capable of assuming other physical embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A brush mechanism comprising a brush assembly mounted for reciprocal movement along a vertical axis, means supporting a container in vertical alignment with said brush assembly and with its mouth opposing said brush assembly and a vacuum chuckassembly positioned in vertical alignment with the brush assembly on the side of said container remote from said brush assembly and having a suction mouth opposing said brush assembly, means rotating said chuck assembly about said axis, means moving said brush assembly vertically towards said chuck assembly to enter said container and move it into engagement with said mouth of said chuck assembly, said brush assembly including brushes mounted for latera1 movement, means moving said brushes laterally into engagement with the interior of said container, and means applying sub-atmospheric pressure to said mouth while engaged with said container to create a pressure difierential so as to hold the container to said chuck assembly for rotary movement therewith.

2. A brush mechanism for use in a washing machine having a conveyor means arranged for intermittently moving a sequence of containers through the machine for washing, said brush mechanism comprising a brush assembly mounted for reciprocal movement along a vertical axis, means supporting a container in vertical alignment with said brush assembly and with its mouth opposing said brush assembly, a vacuum chuck assembly positioned in vertical alignment with the brush assembly on the side of said container remote from said brush assembly and having a suction mouth opposing said brush assembly, means rotating said chuck assembly about said axis, means moving said brush assembly vertically towards said chuck assembly to enter said container carried by the conveyor means and move it into engagement with said mouth of said chuck assembly, said brush assembly including brushes mounted for lateral movement, means moving said brushes laterally into engagement with the inside of said container, means applying sub-atmospheric pressure to said mouth while engaged with said container to create a pressure differential and hold the container to said chuck assembly for rotary movement therewith, and a spray means spraying liquid into the container while it is being rotated about the brush assembly.

3. A brush mechanism for use in a washing machine having a conveyor means arranged for intermittently moving a sequence of containers through the machine for washing, said brush mechanism including a brush assembly, a piston means raising and lowering the brush assembly above and below the conveyor means and into and out of a container thereon, a vacuum chuck assembly positioned in vertical alignment with the brush assembly on the side of said container remote from said brush assembly and having a suction mouth opposing said brush assembly, means rotating said chuck assembly about said axis, means moving said brush assembly vertically towards said chuck assembly to enter said container carried by the conveyor and lift it into engagement with said mouth of said chuck assembly, said chuck assembly being arranged for supplying sub-atmospheric pressure to said mouth while engaged with the outer surface of said container, and a spray means spraying liquid into the container while it is being rotated about the brush assembly.

4. A brush mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said brush assembly includes a vertical actuator member, plate means slidingly guiding said actuator member along a vertical axis, a pair of brushes arranged parallel with the actuator and adjacent opposite vertical side edges of said plate means, and bell crank means each pivotally mounted on said plate means and having one end in sliding engagement with said actuator member and the other end in pivotal connection with one of said brushes, said actuator member being provided with cam means engaged by said one end of the bell crank means to cause lateral movement of said brushes in response to vertical movement of said actuator means.

5. A brush mechanism according to claim 4, wherein a brush is aflixed to the one end of said actuator member and is arranged in the same plane as that of the pair of brushes.

6. A brush mechanism according to claim 5, wherein a pre-stressed resilient means is arranged between the actuator member of said plate means and holds said brushes in their inoperative position.

7. A brush mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said mouth of said vacuum chuck assembly includes a chuck head having a resilient disc-like pad formed with a central recess and an opening, said opening being in alignment with a tubular shaft supporting the chuck head at one end of said shaft.

8. A brush mechanism according to claim 3, wherein a solenoid operated sub-atmospheric pressure valve is arranged for control of sub-atmospheric pressure to the said mouth of vacuum chuck assembly.

9. A brush mechanism according to claim 8, wherein a solenoid operated liquid flow valve controls the liquid flow to the spray means.

10. A brush mechanism according to claim 9, wherein means are afiixed to the piston means for closing a first switch to complete a circuit for the simultaneous operation of the sub-atmospheric pressure valve and the liquid flow valve at a predetermined point in the movement of the brush assembly.

11. A brush mechanism according to claim 10, wherein a solenoid operated pressure fluid valve is arranged for control of pressure fluid flow to the piston means for raising and lowering the brush assembly.

12. A brush mechanism according to claim 11, wherein a second switch means is operable by the conveyor means to complete an electrical circuit through the solenoid operated pressure fluid valve.

13. A brush mechanism according to claim 12, wherein a first relay is closed by operation of said second switch to establish a holding circuit for the solenoid operated pressure fluid valve.

14. A brush mechanism according to claim 13, wherein a third switch is operable by the conveyor means to disrupt the holding circuit through the first relay.

15. A brush mechanism according to claim 14, wherein a pair of cat whiskers is arranged in the path of a container carried by the conveyor means, said cat whiskers forming part of an electrical circuit which operates a second relay to cause flow of electric current in the circuits of the sub-atmospheric pressure valve, the liquid flow valve and the first and second switches.

16. In a washing machine having a conveyor means arranged for intermittently moving a sequence of inverted containers through the machine for washing, the combination therewith of a rising brush mechanism comprising a brush assembly arranged for vertical movement, a vacuum chuck assembly positioned in vertical alignment with the brush assembly and at a given distance thereabove, means rotating said chuck assembly about a vertical axis, said brush assembly being adpated to enter one inverted container on said conveyor means and move it upwardly into engagement with said chuck assembly, a suction mouth at the bottom of said chuck assembly engaging with the upper side of said container, means providing a sub-atmospheric pressure in said mouth to create a pressure differential and hold the container for rotary movement with said chuck assembly, and means moving said brush assembly upwardly into a container in synchronism with said conveyor means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 504,036 Inslee Aug. 29, 1893 1,719,844 Loew et a1. July 9, 1929 2,324,210 Herold July 13, 1943 2,843,867 Gray July 22, 1958 

